Both sides scored one try apiece with Toby Faletau racing over for the home side while Blues hooker Kristian Dacey scooted over for the visitors but Tovey's lethal left boot proved the difference as he rifled over five penalties and a conversion .

He opened the scoring against his former teammates in the third minute with a penalty before local hero Faletau roared over from a pre-planned move from a lineout. Tovey's conversion put the Dragons 10-0 up.

In the 25th minute Dacey powered through two defenders and scooted 22m unopposed to give Leigh Halfpenny an easy conversion to bring the Blues to within three points of the hosts.

The teams went down the tunnel at 10-10 with Halfpenny driving a penalty between the posts with the last kick of the first half.

Ashley Smith was denied a try when Rhys Patchell was taken out earlier by Natani Talei at a ruck leading up to the touchdown. Insult was added to injury when the Blues moved downfield to set Halfpenny up for another straight forward penalty which he landed without fuss to put the Blues in front for the first time of the match.

Tovey locked the score at 13-13 with a well struck penalty and the Dragons fly half put his side back in front with another strike in the 53rd minute after a break out of defence by centre Pat Leach led to Blues flanker Macauley Cook infringing at a ruck.

The Blues were reduced to 14 men when Robin Copeland received a yellow card. The hosts scented blood and forced another error from the Blues for Tovey to ram home his fourth penalty success of the evening.

Tovey's unerring boot piled on the misery for the Blues after Gavin Evans was penalised for not releasing the ball after Leach tickled his ribs with a crunching tackle.

Halfpenny chipped away at the Dragons lead with another penalty but that was the closest the Blues got as the Dragons defiantly stood their ground to earn a deserved victory.